Challenge

Newcastle Engineering Ltd. has offered civil engineering services in Nanaimo since 1995 and is widely known for going the extra mile for its clients. Fueled by its reputation for exceptional client service and the increasing population of Nanaimo, Newcastle decided to embark on a path of growth, inviting a few long-standing employees to become shareholders and embracing a change in leadership.

Embracing change in a 30-year-old business is not for the feint of heart though. Role ambiguity, accountability gaps, and informal communication needed to be addressed. The company’s culture of going above and beyond for clients was resulting in everyone feeling stretched, and on top of all that, two of the original founders were transitioning out of ownership.

They wanted to:

  • Increase revenue and net profit by growing significantly on Vancouver Island.
  • Successfully complete shareholder transitions and transfer of leadership.
  • Enhance the company’s ability to sell existing services and expand into new areas.
  • Provide greater training, development, and advancement opportunities.
  • Maintain reputation of satisfied clients, a positive work environment, quality standards, and positive community relationships.

“After personally participating in Bellrock’s Management Foundations and then their Advanced Management training, I was sold! With great excitement and a little trepidation, I made the suggestion to Newcastle’s leadership team to consider having Bellrock facilitate an initial two-day Strategic Planning session. They agreed and we haven’t looked back since. With Bellrock’s guidance we have successfully built up our team and created a solid foundation for continued growth. Constantly learning and evolving, we now have the tools and confidence necessary to advance along our current path. To anyone considering solutions for their business’ challenges, Bellrock would be my first suggestion!”

Teri Lokszyn, Controller, Newcastle Engineering

Solution

Newcastle first engaged Bellrock for annual strategic planning and then a custom implementation project that spanned six months with several follow-up engagements.

Strategic Planning

Since 2021, Bellrock has facilitated annual and quarterly strategic planning along with monthly advisory sessions to ensure plans are met and tactical issues are resolved. While the annual strategic planning sessions focus on the overall vision and roadmap for the future, the quarterly sessions and monthly advisory address the more tactical actions and significant roadblocks that arise as companies grow.

Learn more about Strategic Planning

Implementation

Bellrock was embedded into Newcastle’s environment for six months to assist with the implementation of key foundational systems. Working closely with their team, we;

  • Built an organizational structure aligned with their strategic plans to form the foundation for role clarity and process improvements.
  • Mapped company-wide processes that clarified activities and accountability for all staff and set the stage for greater documentation of key processes and procedures.
  • Established clear job descriptions and performance evaluations to better set and measure expectations.
  • Built a robust recruiting and onboarding process to attract and retain top talent.
  • Optimized company meetings to improve alignment and team collaboration, address issues, and drive operational improvements.
  • Enhanced project meetings to streamline project communication, address challenges, and foster continuous improvement.
Learn more about Implementation

Management Training

Bellrock provided extensive training for the entire management team, equipping them with effective people management techniques, tools, and best practices. Our training and coaching also played a vital role in reinforcing the implementation of systems and instilling better leadership and management practices within the team.

Learn more about Management Training

Results

Three Years Later

  • 50% increase in annual revenue from initial engagement in 2021.
  • Successfully completed a shareholder exit and transition of leadership.
  • Grew the team from 14 to 28 staff.

“We’ve been working with Bellrock for almost 4 years now and continue to engage in strategic planning with them. From this, as well as the custom implementation program and management training we completed with them in our first year, the positive changes in our organization are significant. We have a strong foundation and systems in place that are allowing us to scale up and achieve our goals. I highly recommend Bellrock to anyone that is looking to strengthen their business.”

Nathan Trobridge, President, Newcastle Engineering

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